Buick opened reservations for its first electric SUV, the Electra E5, on April 13 in China. According to an update from the automaker Tuesday, the Buick Electra E5 has 8,000 orders after 10 days on the market.
Buick’s first electric SUV receives 8,000 orders in 10 days
The Electra E5 is not only the brand’s first electric SUV but also Buick’s first mass-produced EV on GM’s ultium platform.
We got our first glimpse of the electric SUV in November after documents released by the China Ministry of Industry and Information Technology leaked documents containing images and specs.
Buick says the new vehicle adopts a brand-new electric vehicle design language called “new life” and is loaded with features such as VCS smart cockpit and GM’s next-gen Super Cruise ADAS technology.
The Electra E5 is a large five-seater pure electric SUV that’s 4,892mm (16 feet) long, 1,905mm (6.25 feet) wide, and 1,655mm (5.3 feet) tall. Powered by either a 68 kWh or 80 kWh battery, depending on the trim, the SUV provides a CLTC range of 545 km (338 miles) or 620 km (385 miles).
Buyers in China have five trim levels to choose from, with power output options of 150 kW, 180 kW, or 211 kW.
Buick Electra E5 (Source: Buick)
The cheapest trim, the Electra E5 Standard Range, features 545 km (338 miles) of CLTC range for a starting price of 208,900 yuan ($30,146). Meanwhile, the top Electra E5R RWD Avenir trim features 603 km (374 miles) of range but will cost you over $40,000 (278,900 yuan).
Buick Electra E5 electric SUV receives 8,000 orders (Source: Buick)
According to Buick in China, its first electric SUV has received over 8,000 orders within half a month of launching. Of the reservation holders, 47% have chosen the standard battery edition.
Electrek’s Take
Although Buick has already filed trademark protection for Electra models one through nine in the US, it’s not likely we will see the same version.
Buick has already noted this is a China-specific version. However, Buick did announce it will be going all-electric by 2030, so we will see some version of the Electra E5. Being in the middle of the lineup, we can expect another midsize crossover.
The automaker says its first EV will be available in North America, but not until next year. At that point, there will already be several midsize crossovers on the market, so Buick will need to act urgently before the brand falls even more out of favor in the US.
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On today’s extreme episode of Quick Charge, we’ve got the most affordable new EV in America packing 255 miles of range, sub-30 minute charging, V2H support, and more – all that for a price about $10,000 LESS than that new “affordable” Tesla.
We’ve also got specs for the all-new, all-electric Ferrari Elettrica and a world’s first, hydrogen-powered autonomous farm tractor from Kubota.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Climate XChange, a nonpartisan nonprofit working to help states pass effective, equitable climate policies. The nonprofit just kicked off its 10th annual EV raffle, where participants have multiple opportunities to win their dream model. Visit CarbonRaffle.org/Electrek to learn more.
New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (most weeks, anyway). We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage daily news.
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Momentum, the lifestyle-focused urban bike brand under Giant Group, has just launched the latest version of its popular Vida E+ electric bike – and this one’s all about making e-biking smoother, safer, and more accessible to riders of all experience levels.
The updated Vida E+ features a new 500W SyncDrive Move S motor offering 60Nm of torque and pedal assist up to 28 mph, designed to provide natural-feeling power whether you’re cruising to work or just exploring around town. The system uses a combination of sensors to analyze torque, speed, and cadence, automatically adjusting power output to match your pedaling effort.
According to Momentum, the motor engages with as little as 4Nm of pedal pressure and just 10° of crank movement, giving riders what they describe as an ultra-smooth and effortless start every time.
A new optional throttle adds another layer of convenience, letting riders cruise at speeds up to 20 mph without pedaling, which should be perfect for hills, traffic-heavy starts, or when you just want to relax and take it easy on the way home. The bike’s EnergyPak 700 battery provides up to a claimed 55 miles (88 km) of range on pedal assist or 43 miles (69 km) on throttle-only riding.
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The Vida E+ also leans hard into comfort and safety. It sports a low-step aluminum frame for easy on-and-off, an 80 mm suspension fork, and wide 26×2.4-inch tires for stability and plushness. Four-piston hydraulic disc brakes ensure solid stopping power, while a new automatic motor cutoff feature stops assistance as soon as the brakes engage. The bike is UL 2849 certified, meaning it meets top-tier safety standards for batteries and electronics, which is a growing priority in the e-bike world as more cities and states consider requiring safety certification as a prerequisite.
With support for up to 300 pounds (136 kg) total load and optional racks front and rear, the Vida E+ is also built for everyday utility. And on the tech side, momentum’s RideControl app lets riders fine-tune speed and assistance, lock or unlock the bike electronically, and monitor battery health.
VW’s US EV lease deals just went from hero to zero. Federal tax credits are now dead, the automaker has wiped out up to $12,000 in lease incentives on the ID.4, and ended $10,500 in discounts on the ID. Buzz. The move bucks the trend as other brands continue to sweeten their EV lease offers.
As of September 30, 2025, Volkswagen offered up to $12,350 in lease cash on the ID.4, depending on configuration. That included a $7,500 federal lease tax credit for lessees as Bonus Customer Cash, plus $3,500 to $4,850 in Dealer Lease Cash. It made the ID.4 one of the top EV lease deals around.
On October 1, those incentives vanished. While the ID.4 still has a 0% APR equivalent lease rate, drivers lost more than $12,000 in savings overnight. The ID. Buzz took a similar hit. Last month, the 2025 ID. Buzz offered $10,500 off MSRP between the $7,500 tax credit and $3,000 Dealer Lease Cash. Now, almost all lease cash is gone. VW Credit is offering just $750 in Dealer Lease Cash, and weirdly, not on models with two-tone paint. According to CarsDirect’s lease calculator, the lowest-priced ID. Buzz trim now carries an effective monthly cost topping $1,000 — a considerable jump.
For comparison, the ID. Buzz Pro S was previously advertised at $589 a month for 36 months with $5,999 due at signing, or an effective monthly cost of $756.
The ID.4 lease once cost just $233 a month, making it one of the cheapest EVs to lease. According to updated estimates, that figure is now north of $800 – that’s hair-raising.
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Meanwhile, VW’s rivals are going in the opposite direction. Ford extended its Mustang Mach-E lease deals through early January. Subaru’s updated 2026 Solterra still qualifies for the $7,500 lease credit, and Jeep replaced the expiring EV lease credit with equivalent bonus cash.
If you really want a Volkswagen, though, there’s some good news: financing deals haven’t changed. The 2025 ID.4 continues to offer 0% APR for 72 months, and buyers of the ID. Buzz can still get up to $3,250 in Bonus Customer Cash through November 3, a perk unavailable to lessees.
It kinda seems like VW doesn’t want to lease their EVs anymore…?? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
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